Dachstein West | Ski Areas Austria

Dachstein West 12 — © ARGE Dachstein West, Mirja Geh

Dachstein West in short

Dachstein West's more than 50 km of pistes are spread across several mountains in both Upper Austria and Salzburgerland. You can access this versatile and super family-friendly ski area from the villages of Gosau, Rußbach, Annaberg and St Martin. The landscape is stunning and is part of the UNESCO region Dachstein Salzkammergut. In Dachstein West, you are sure to find great skiing and enjoy breathtaking views.

Dachstein West: an ideal ski area for families

The pistes of Dachstein West reach an altitude of 1,620 metres. That may not be very high, but you don't have to worry about the snow. Thanks to its snow-sure location, skiing here is usually possible from early December to early/mid-April. Dachstein West is a real family ski resort featuring four children's areas where the little ones can playfully learn their first turns.

When your kids move on to the rest of the ski area, you might regularly bump into each other, as the resort is not that big. There are many beautiful practice pistes and fun slopes. In the Ötscher Kids Park near the Ötscher lift, every child is sure to have exciting adventures.

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Blue 15 km
Red 33 km
Black 3 km

Mountain: 70 cm

Valley: 20 cm

Drag Lifts 6
Chair Lifts 8
Gondolas 3
Trains 0
Glacier No
Speed 27600 p/hour

One ski pass, over 160 km of slopes

If you purchase a multi-day ski pass, you can access the ski areas in Salzkammergut (Dachstein West and Dachstein Krippenstein) as well as the slopes of Feuerkogel Ebensee, Karkogel & Sonnleitenlifte Abtenau, Skilift Lammertal Lungötz, St. Martin am Tennengebirge and Zinkenlifte Bad Dürrnberg. Kartenverbund Dachstein West thus offers access to over 160 km of slopes, accessed by more than 70 lifts. Those who purchase a season pass can also ski in Werfenweng.

Four children’s lands

Dachstein West features four children's lands - proof that it's a super family-friendly ski resort. In Gosau, children can visit Zwisi-Land, located next to the Panorama-Jet-Zwiesenalm cable car, and Fredy-Land at the Hornspitz-Gosau mountain station. Both areas can be accessed for free and offer a playful way for children to learn skiing before moving on to the rest of the ski area. In Russbach, children can visit the Bärenkamp area with Bruno, the mascot, providing daily entertainment. All lifts here are free for children up to six years old, accompanied by a parent. In Annaberg, children can try out Fuxi's Kinderland. Here, Fuxi, a cheerful mascot, encourages kids while skiing.

Ski the Dachstein Tour in Dachstein West

You can discover the most beautiful spots of Dachstein West on the Dachstein Tour. Along the way, you can enjoy stunning views of the Dachstein massif and all the other peaks in the area. This ski circuit is 44 km long (including lifts) and is well marked. Pause along the way in one of the cosy mountain huts and treat yourself to a nice day trip. The pistes are red and blue in colour, making the ski tour suitable for intermediate skiers.

Lots of cosy huts

Time for a coffee break or lunch? Dachstein West offers a wide range of cosy mountain huts and piste restaurants. They all boast a traditional look and offer well-known Austrian dishes like Kaiserschmarrn and Tiroler Gröstl, as well as regional specialities and international favourites. There are also many opportunities for a drink after skiing - but don't expect exuberant après-ski and hopping crowds. Things are more relaxed in Dachstein West. For stunning views and lovely terraces, try out the Ausblick and Sonnenalm huts in Gosau. Do you prefer to try something different? Then head to d'Speis - Food Truck at the Hornbahn valley station in Russbach.

Fun off-piste activities

There is also plenty to do off-piste in Dachstein West. Cross-country skiers will find around 50 km of trails in the valley and on the mountain. Moreover, you will find an extensive network of clearly marked trails so you can treat yourself to amazing hiking and snowshoeing tours. We recommend a snowshoe hike on Zwiesenalm. It takes about 60 to 90 minutes of walking and offers views of the Großglockner and the Dachstein glacier.

Excursion to Dachstein Krippenstein

With a multi-day ski pass, a trip to the nearby Dachstein Krippenstein ski area is also an option. This small but lovely ski area has 12 km of slopes and is also part of the UNESCO region Hallstatt-Dachstein/Salzkammerhut. When here, try out the 11 km long downhill run to Obertraun. Dachstein Krippenstein is a real hotspot for freeriders. The ski area boasts 30 km of off-piste variants with over 1,500 metres of altitude difference. Beautiful routes are also available in the high alpine area.